Zhouzhuang is the Venice of China. Suzhou - Chinese Venice Chinese miracle similar to Venice in China
Quote from Kandy_sweet "Chinese Venice" - cities on the water
Chinese bamboo flute
Chinese water cities, often called the “Venice of the East,” are famous for their ancient buildings, bridges, picturesque canals and local residents, whose life has remained virtually unchanged over the past centuries, despite the economic boom that is sweeping all of China today.
Zhujiajiao
One of the oldest water villages in China, Zhujiajiao, is located just 30 km from the center of Shanghai in the western suburbs on the shores of Lake Dianshanhu. This is one of the most beautiful historical places in China, with a history of more than 1,700 years. They say this is the Venice of Shanghai - a perfectly preserved ancient village on the river bank. On Great Northern Street there is the Kezhi Garden. This is one of the largest home gardens in southern China.
They say Zhujiajiao is the city of bohemian Shanghai youth. A kind of outlet and salvation, a monastery where you can hide from the hustle and bustle of a multimillion-dollar city. Thanks to them, many old houses here have turned into amazing cafes, pubs, theaters and clubs, decorated and painted in every possible way. Art and creativity are simply in the air!
Suzhou
The historical center of Suzhou, around which the modern city has grown, stands on the Great China Canal between Shanghai and Wuxi, near Lake Taihu, and for many centuries was the most important transport and commercial center of the Jiangnan region - the richest part of the country.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the city was built up with the estates of capital officials and turned into the garden capital of China.
A World Heritage Site, Suzhou's historic center is still famous for its beautiful stone bridges like Bao Daiqiao, pagodas and elaborate gardens. With the rise of Shanghai in the late 19th century, Suzhou lost its importance as a central city in the region, but due to its architecture and the large number of businesses around the city, it remains a mecca for both tourists and entrepreneurs.
Chibao
Chibao Ancient Year is located in the Minhang District of Shanghai (18 km from the city center), with a population of about 14 million people, with a total area of 21.3 km2. The ancient city of Chibao was built during the Song Dynasty (960–1126). The word "Chibao" is translated as "seven treasures".
The city of Chibao has attracted tourists since ancient times. This is one of the oldest and most famous areas in Shanghai. it is cut by the canals of the Tong River Po, which flows directly through the city. Numerous and picturesque bridges and canals - all this creates a unique atmosphere of the ancient city of Qibao. Here you can see old wells, an embankment and picturesque bridges, as well as ancient buildings and buildings, narrow streets, and huge shady trees.
On the territory of the ancient city is the Seven Treasures Temple (“Qibao Temple”), built in 907–960. This is a Buddhist pagoda located in the center of the area. Among the residents of Shanghai there lives an old legend about the real seven treasures existing and securely hidden on the territory of the temple and monastery: an iron Buddha from the Ming Dynasty, a bronze bell from the Ming Dynasty, a golden manuscript in the shape of a lotus written by the emperor’s concubine in the 10th century, a thousand-year-old Chinese tree A catalpa, a jade axe, a golden cockerel and a pair of jade chopsticks. Interestingly, only the first four treasures have been documented, and only one treasure has ever been found. This is an ancient bell, which is now located on the territory of the Temple of the Seven Treasures.
Zhouzhuang – Venice of the East
Zhouzhuang is one of China's most picturesque and famous water cities, located in Kunshan County, just 30 km southeast of Suzhou. The ancient town stands on the Jinghan Canal, connecting Suzhou with Shanghai. The city is widely famous for its romantic atmosphere, enchanting views and well-preserved ancient residential buildings, elegant bridges and rich cultural heritage.
The city of Zhouzhuang is known as the first water settlement in China, whose history dates back just over 900 years. It is called the “Venice of the East”.
It attracts tourists with its labyrinth of canals, buildings from the Qing and Ming eras and local customs. The city is located on an area of about 0.4 km2. However, with a seemingly insignificant territory, here you can see about 100 ancient classical courtyards, more than 60 arches of brick carvings and 14 ancient bridges. It is important to note that the bridges here are very diverse, but the most typical are the paired Shuangqiao bridges. These strong, stone, simple bridges were built during the Ming Dynasty. They consist of one arched stone span and one beamed stone span. Another interesting and unique place in Zhouzhuang is the “double-passage bridge” spanning two canals. The streets are rivers, the passages are connected by bridges, and the houses are built along the rivers.
Xitang Ancient City
Xitang is a famous water city with a thousand-year history, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city is divided into two parts: old and new. In the Old Part there are well-preserved ensembles of buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The narrow, winding streets, called "lun" in the local dialect, are an integral part of Xitang. Quiet waters, beautiful ancient bridges, of which there are more than 100, fishing boats, soft pink sunsets and sunrises reflected in the water, which shimmers with sparkling lights in the evening, create an absolutely idyllic fairy-tale picture filled with ancient poetry.
The ancient city of Xitang is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City (Zhejiang Province), at the junction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, and the city of Shanghai. It is located 90 km east of Shanghai and 110 km west of Hangzhou. Nine fairways intersect in Xitan, which actually divided the city into 8 parts. Numerous bridges connect them into one.
Among the ancient cities, Xitan has a distinct identity and is famous for its large number of bridges, canals and canopies. The total length of the latter, stretching along the canals, is more than a thousand meters. This is the biggest difference between Xitang and similar places in China.
Fenghuang
Fenghuang is an ancient city of China in the Hunan province, entering which the traveler seems to be transported to another time. This city captivates with its untouched ancient beauty and mystery. Here beautiful nature is combined with ancient architecture and color.
Unique houses built on stilts, winding streets converging towards the center, bridges over the river - all this personifies the harmony and mysterious beauty that is so often depicted in traditional Chinese painting. No wonder this city is rightly called one of the most beautiful in China.
The history of this city goes back 1300 years, but it seems to travelers that, despite the passing centuries, this city has managed to preserve its originality. In many ways, life here hasn't changed many years later. Everything is the same as centuries ago, women wash vegetables in the river and wash clothes there. This region is surprisingly warm and hospitable. Local life is distinguished by its special originality and color. The wonderful city comes alive especially at midday. Here you can see women carrying bamboo baskets and men pulling buffalos. And in the evening you can hear the sound of beaters from the river, with the help of which women wash clothes.
Zhouzhuang is one of the most picturesque and famous Chinese towns on the water, located in Kunshan County, an hour and a half drive from Shanghai. It is famous for its romantic atmosphere, enchanting views, ancient bridges and rich cultural heritage.
Chinese Venice - that's what they call it quaint town of Zhouzhuang.
Entrance to the village:
Immediately at the entrance, you are greeted by souvenir shops:
Walking a little deeper, we finally found ourselves in the heart of the historical part, where the houses are located on old narrow canals:
In the historical center of the town alone, on an area of just 0.4 sq. km, there are about 100 ancient Chinese courtyards, more than 60 intricately carved brick arches and 14 ancient bridges.
The streets of the “Chinese Venice” are canals, on the banks of which houses with white walls and curved tiled roofs are built. Centuries ago, residents moved along these streets by boats.
The town of Zhouzhuang is more like a museum under the sky than a populated area, although many Chinese continue to live in their ancient houses.
This cunning device serves to collect water from the river into a special tank:
A long bridge leading from the historical part of the village to the modern areas:
Boat parking:
Historical signs, worn by time:
The history of the “Chinese Venice” - the city of Zhouzhuang began with Quanfu Buddhist Temple"General Prosperity", completed in 1806. And the first inhabitants of the city were Buddhist monks:
Unlike many temples, this monastery is not surrounded by a wall, but is bordered by water and an amazing garden. The garden was built by the poet of the time Zhang Jiying in the 3rd-5th century:
The winding bridge is considered protection from evil spirits:
The village has many stone bridges that have preserved the style of the Yuan, Ming and Qing eras:
Another attraction of Zhouzhuang are the artists who come from different parts of China. Here they can be found everywhere:
Local artists sell their works here:
And here they make liqueur. It is stored in the following bottles:
Empty containers:
By lunchtime there were a lot of tourists and traffic on the canals became very busy:
Near one of the houses, shrimp are dried on a net:
Residents of the town wash dishes or wash clothes in the water of the canals:
Still, the best time to visit the city is in the evening, when dusk is gathering over the canals and red lanterns suspended from the roofs of houses are reflected in the water.
In December 1997, Zhouzhuang was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage sites with the light hand of the UNESCO Secretary General, who visited this city and dubbed it the “Venice of China.”
A wonderful city that combines both ancient culture and modern technology. All this easily coexists in one place and complements each other, creating its own unique atmosphere. The further away from the city, the more ancient villages and settlements you can find. Traveling through such places, you inevitably move several centuries back in time. Particularly beautiful are the ancient cities that stand on the water. The places described in this article are truly unique and unique. If you are lucky enough to get into one of these, you will feel it yourself.
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City on the water |
Distance |
Peculiarities |
Commerce |
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Nansun |
Shanghai 2h |
Traditional Chinese and Oriental architecture, indigenous people, many cultural attractions. Previously it was the richest city. |
Least commercial. Quiet. |
|
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Shanghai 1½h |
A small water town with traditional architecture and bridges, indigenous people, easily accessible from Suzhou. |
Least commercial. Quiet. |
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Shanghai 1½h |
A large number of bridges, many paths for boat trips. |
Least commercial. Quiet. |
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Shanghai 2h |
A restored ancient city with modern hotels. |
Commercial. |
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Zhujiajiao |
Shanghai 1½h Hangzhou 1h |
Near Shanghai. Suitable for a half-day excursion. |
Highly commercial. |
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Shanghai ½h |
Very small, many old houses with beautiful architecture. |
A huge flow of people. |
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Shanghai 1½h Suzhou ½h |
A small amount of entertainment and shops, a singing woman on a boat. |
Least commercial. Quiet. |
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Zhouzhuang |
Shanghai 2h |
A very popular city, dirty water in the summer. |
Highly commercial. |
Nanxun Ancient Town 南浔区
Nansun Ancient City is not as popular as other famous places of its kind, but that is what makes it so unusual. This ancient city has a calm atmosphere as there are no huge hordes of tourists here. Combined with beautiful nature and amazing architecture, this place deserves to be at the top of this list.
Once here, you will be completely imbued with this ancient city and feel its spirit. Historical buildings and beautiful nature are what awaits you here. In addition to the beautiful architecture, you can see the traditional procedure for creating writing brushes and a delightful wedding performance on the water. If you don't know where to go in Shanghai or its area, then visit this place and you will be delighted.
· Location: 1½ hours from Hangzhou 2 hours from Shanghai
· Activity: viewing old buildings, boating, walking, photography
· Suitable for: : those who want to see a classic Chinese water city
· Peculiarities: quiet country town, rich cultural heritage
Tongli Water Town 同里
This is a classic ancient water city located on the Yangtze River Delta. This is a real Chinese Venice. Almost all buildings are on the water. This is a very popular place, because the mixture of architecture and beautiful water canals makes this place very picturesque.
Fifteen pedestrian canals divide the city into 7 small islands, and they in turn are connected by 40 bridges. The area of this miracle is 33 hectares, it is divided into 5 lakes. This is truly a water city in the truest sense of the word. If you are still wondering how to spend time in Shanghai or its surroundings, then quickly get ready and go to look around this beautiful place.
· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai
· Activity: walks, viewing old buildings along the length of the canal, photographs
· Suitable for: those who want to see the classical gardens and parks of Suzhou
· Peculiarities: few tourists
Ancient City Xitan(Xitang Ancient Town)
This place is also quite popular. Here you can see unique architecture that you will not find anywhere else. This ancient town differs from others with its numerous bridges and unusual alleys.
You can take amazing pictures here, because the place is quite quiet and there are not many shops and shops. Looking into Xitang, you can see such attractions as the “Xue Family House” - a screw museum, an art gallery, and a root carving museum. You can also go fishing with the locals and have dinner on the boat.
· Location: 1½ from Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou
· Suitable for: those who want to swim in the tunnels and take beautiful pictures
· Peculiarities: a large number of bridges and covered water corridors
Wuzhen Water Town 乌镇
Wuzhen is one of the most famous water towns in China. Its history began more than one thousand years ago. Ancient residential buildings, shops, shops and workshops are located on the banks of the canals. The main attractions of this place are various folk performances and shows.
Almost the entire western area has been restored in the “old style”, but it is also easy to find really old houses here. Many people complain about the area being too commercial. But even despite the numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment, the atmosphere of this place is amazing. In any case, you need to see it with your own eyes. By the way, if you don't know where to eat in Shanghai, then you can go here. Here you can taste delicious snacks and at the same time enjoy beautiful views of the ancient streets
· Location: 1 hour from Suzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai
· Suitable for: those who want to see the ancient night city
· Peculiarities: restored ancient town, very picturesque at night
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (朱家角)
This is a beautiful old city, just an hour's drive from the center of Shanghai. It is well equipped with waterways, making boating here a very enjoyable experience. Here you can find both small Chinese houses and majestic Chinese residences.
The complex has 36 beautiful bridges that connect everything to each other. Not far from this place there is a large natural lake called Dianshan. Lovers of a relaxing holiday flock there. Here you can take a boat ride while admiring the amazing nature. This is an excellent place for tourism, because it has almost everything you need for an unforgettable trip.
· Location: 1 hour from Shanghai city center
· Activity: boating, walking, photography
· Suitable for: those with limited time
· Peculiarities: very busy with tourists, especially on weekends.
Qibao Ancient City (QibaoAncientTown (七宝镇)
Perhaps this is the smallest ancient city on our entire list, but it deserves attention no less than the others. There are only two pedestrian streets, but there are a large number of interesting souvenir shops and traditional Chinese eateries. If you're a lover of Chinese snacks, you'll love it here.
Here you can try and see how the popular distilled liqueur is made at the Qibao winery. You can also visit the rather unusual museum of miniature prints of the Zhou family.
· Location: 1 an hour from downtown Shanghai by metro
· Activity: viewing ancient architecture and buying street snacks
· Suitable for: those who have limited time
· Peculiarities: very small, similar in size to a bazaar, crowded with people on weekends
Luzhi Ancient Town 甪直镇 )
This elegant water city is surrounded by five lakes. There are also a huge number of different bridges that were built by different dynasties. The number of bridges is 41, with a total of four dynasties involved. That’s why this place is also called the “Museum of Chinese Bridges.”
Many ancient residences have been preserved that were built by the Ming and Qing dynasties. Almost all of them have not been reconstructed, as in most other complexes. So, here you can enjoy the authentic ancient architecture to the fullest. The size of the entire ancient city is comparable to a hundred city blocks.
· Location:
· Suitable for: those who don't like crowds of people
· Peculiarities: beautiful water city, a singing woman on a boat floats along the canals, few paid activities
Water City Zhouzhuang. (Zhouzhuang Water Town)
Zhouzhuang is the most popular and famous ancient water city in this area. There is a huge flow of tourists here on weekends, so if you are planning a quiet, deserted holiday, then come on weekdays.
This place is famous for its well-preserved ancient residences. Here you can get to know ancient folk arts and crafts better. Although the entire complex has long since become commercial and attracts huge flows of tourists, the views here are still amazing. Photographers especially love these places. Morning photos come out especially well here.
· Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai
· Activity: architecture viewing, ferry rides, street walks, photography
· Suitable for: those who want to see the classical gardens of Suzhou and take a ferry ride
· Peculiarities: the most popular water city in China, a lot of tourists, a lot of paid entertainment
Walking through such places, you begin to understand how difficult it is to get comfortable in such a distant and unusual country as China. To better understand the Chinese mentality and easily explain to people what you want, you cannot do without a translator. Our company can provide you with a professional who will help you not only reach an understanding with your interlocutor, but will make you feel as comfortable as possible in this country.
We also organize events in which you can get acquainted with the business side of Shanghai. If you need to travel to Shanghai for work matters, we will be happy to give you tours of the best factories, factories and exhibitions in Shanghai. Contact us and you will soon become another satisfied customer.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first time setting foot on Chinese soil or you’ve lived in this country for several years, traveling around China is a great way to learn more about the culture, history and life of our Chinese contemporaries. With the help of our project, you can not only expand the geography of tourist places in the country, but also learn local life hacks. Go?
Suzhou (苏州)
city district in Jiangsu Province (江苏)
the historical part of the city is located on the water
population: 2.05 million people
keywords: Eastern Venice, silk, gardens, Great Canal of China, bridges, wedding fashion center, kunqu opera, tea house
Why Suzhou?
The history of Suzhou dates back 2,500 years. This city has always embodied the sophistication and grace of traditional Chinese culture. Today it is a modern city that has managed to organically combine history and modernity, skyscrapers and cozy buildings, high technology and a provincial pace of life.
The main attractions of the city are gardens, old streets, parks and canals. If you have long dreamed of seeing a traditional Chinese city, then you should definitely come to Suzhou. Here you will feel unity with nature and history against the background of dynamically developing modernity.
How to get there?
The best and fastest way to get to Suzhou from Shanghai is by high-speed train, but you can also take a regular one. The ticket price will be from 12.5 yuan for the slowest train, the journey on which will take up to 1 hour 20 minutes. The train station is located north of the city center.
The second most popular way is by bus. The city has four bus stations that connect Suzhou with, Wuxi, Zhouzhuan and Tongli.
Where to live?
One daylight is enough to visit Suzhou. That is, you can leave Shanghai in the morning, spend the day in Suzhou and return back in the evening. But if you are a big fan of bridges and canals, then here are some recommendations for choosing a hotel in Suzhou.
It is better to choose a hotel in the old town, since almost all the attractions are located there. The famous gardens are located in the historical center of the city and relatively close to each other. Therefore, we advise you to settle on Guanqian Street (观前街) or Pingjiang Road (平江路). The hotel's location on Shiquan Street (十全街) or near Suzhou University (苏州大学) will also be convenient. Booking sites offer a lot of options, the choice depends only on your preferences. When booking a hotel on Chinese resources, you should definitely check whether the hotel has the right to accommodate foreigners.
How to get around?
The city has a developed public transport system. You can use the subway (travel price from 2 to 6 yuan), buses (ticket price 2 yuan) and taxi (boarding cost 10 yuan, and the trip will cost from 15 to 60 yuan). The Suzhou metro continues to be built, so it is better to download an online map, as paper maps become outdated very quickly. If you want to try something unusual, we recommend using the services of auto-rickshaws (starting price 2 yuan, price for long-distance trips by agreement). The original design of the strollers will not leave you indifferent.
If you like an active way of getting around, you can rent a bicycle. But to do this you will have to download one of the many mobile applications. The most popular services are Mobike and Ofo.
What to do?
It's worth going to Suzhou to see the gardens and canals. The first private gardens in Suzhou were built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), but private gardening, like the city itself, flourished in the 16th to 18th centuries. At this time it was one of the richest cities in the country. Situated on the banks of the Grand Canal, connecting the breadbasket of the empire with the capital, and not far from the Yangtze, the main shipping route from west to east of the country, Suzhou was a center of trade of all-China importance. The decline of the city in the second half of the 19th century was provoked by the Taiping Uprising, and by the end of the 1940s, little remained of its former garden and park splendor. The restoration of the gardens in recent decades and their transformation from private properties to public museums reflects their significant role in Chinese culture.
All traditional parks and gardens in China can be divided into three categories: monastic (at Buddhist temples and monasteries), imperial (including summer residences and hunting grounds) and private gardens. The latter were common in the richest cities of the empire, located near the mouth of the Yangtze: Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Yangzhou. They, in turn, are divided into two types: “static” and “dynamic”. The first ones were planned in such a way that you had to admire them while sitting or standing. Therefore, when visiting such “static” gardens, it is important to know from what angle and where to look. The second, “dynamic” ones, assumed that they would be admired while walking - their beauty lies precisely in the dynamics of the changing landscape. Thus, the first type includes the “Lion Grove,” and the second type includes the spacious Garden of a Modest Official.
The Humble Official's Garden (拙政园)
Ticket price is 50 – 70 yuan depending on the season.
The garden was built in 1509. On an area of 5 hectares there are ponds, a museum, a teahouse and many pavilions. Here you can visit the Sound of Rain pavilion or walk through the Perspective Gallery. This is the largest garden in Suzhou. You will definitely love its bridges, bamboo groves and ponds with fragrant lotuses. The only downside to this overly popular place is the crowds of tourists, which can be a nuisance.
Lion Grove Garden (狮子林园)
Ticket price 20 – 30 yuan depending on the season
The garden was built in 1342 by the Chan Buddhist monk Tianzhu in memory of his mentor. Throughout the history of its existence, the garden was rebuilt and restored several times. The last reconstruction was carried out in 1926.
A special feature of the park is the artificial stone slides. If you look closely and use your imagination, you can see proud lions in the interlacing stones.
Garden of Marital Retreat (耦园)
Ticket price is 15 – 20 yuan depending on the season.
This secluded place is located away from popular routes, and therefore there are not as many tourists here as in other gardens. The garden is an example of Chinese park art with the obligatory ponds, bridges and canals surrounded by traditional buildings. Here you can calmly reflect and discuss plans for the future.
Tiger Hill (虎丘)
The hill, 36 m high, is located in the northern part of the city. Hill area 14,100 sq. m. According to legend, Emperor He Lu (6th century BC) is buried in the depths of the hill. After burial, a white tiger came to his grave, which guards the emperor’s peace to this day. To be fair, it must be said that the emperor’s grave was never found. But the beautiful legend and fabulous nature attracts more and more tourists.
The external shape of the hill resembles a tiger getting ready to jump. Not far from the hill is Sword Lake, and at the top of the hill stands the Chinese “Leaning Tower of Pisa” - Yunyan Pagoda (云岩寺塔). The height of the pagoda is 47 m, and the angle of inclination is 3 degrees.
Grand Canal (大運河)
This is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of Suzhou. You can't leave the city by water without taking a cruise boat ride on the Grand Canal. The canal took almost 2,000 years to build and is still China's most important waterway. The length of the canal is 1782 km, and with branches - 2470 km.
During the cruise you will be able to watch a small show pingtan(评弹). This performance of ballads accompanied by traditional instruments is one of the hallmarks of Suzhou. All ballads are sung in the local dialect at.
Silk Museum (苏州丝绸博物馆)
Ticket price is 15 yuan.
Suzhou is famous for the production of silk and silk products. For 4,000 years, great masters have been creating unique works. It was here that the technology for producing silk thread from cocoons was developed. In the museum you will not only learn the history of silk production, but also see the production process: from caterpillars to finished products. And on the ground floor in the shopping pavilion you can buy a silk dress, robe, bed linen and much more.
Photo used for title illustration Alina Kochetova.
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08 November 2016Another place that certainly deserves close attention and a must visit. This is the city of Suzhou, located in the Yangtze River Delta. On the branches, as well as the canals built between them, a real city has grown here, and what a city - an entire region! After all, in addition to Suzhou itself, you can also go to neighboring towns, for example, to Tongli.
The city of Suzhou is located just an hour's drive from Shanghai. In principle, it would even be possible to get here in one day. If Suzhou itself were not so interesting, then 2-3 days would not be so much for it and its surroundings.
Immediately upon leaving the station we come across a canal and a fortress wall. Already cool!
The city of Suzhou is huge. You probably didn’t really know about this one, but there’s even a metro here! It was here that I came up with a joke about “what is overpopulation in Chinese? This is when you go to an indistinguishable point on the map, and there are not only 40-story residential skyscrapers, but also a metro line!
And we, in fact, are going to the center!
This is the old city. It is a rectangle of approximately 2 by 3 km with canals and ancient buildings along them, delighting both foreigners and the Chinese themselves.
This is really Venice!
No, cooler than Venice!
It seems like a tourist place, but ordinary Chinese live in the houses. They immediately cook, wash, etc.
Would you like to live here? Every morning, look out the window, drinking green tea, looking at the flowing water.
Gondola rides on waterways are popular.
On the outskirts of the historical center you can find a fake fortress wall. It’s clear from everything that she’s a remake, but the Chinese are eating it up.
Actually, it's romantic here...
So, Suzhou is a large industrial city. Fans of smelly industrial zones will find it interesting here. Even though I’m a fan, I didn’t go see them - I don’t have much time, alas..
Well, the industrial architecture of the early 20th century also deserves attention.
I went to the suburbs of Suzhou - the town of Tong Li.
Everything here is even more flamboyant than in Suzhou itself.
More authentic, untouched. This is becoming more and more rare for China...
These are the narrow cobbled streets, where simple peasant people live, just like hundreds of years ago.
Old city. All pedestrian.
You can wander through these labyrinths all day.
This is absolutely class!
Everything here is simple, no frills. The question is, how long will this town last without global reconstruction?
It’s such a pity that I poorly organized my time, came here for only a couple of hours (it got dark very early, and I was here about a year ago).
In those same canals, ordinary Tunlin residents wash their clothes.
The next morning I decided to leave Suzhou further to Qingdao, but was severely disappointed. Suzhou did not let me go.
Well, think for yourself, can such a spiritual place be let go so easily? Despite the fact that we haven’t even seen industrial zones yet?
In Suzhou itself, canals are also actively used by locals as natural reservoirs.
Here they do laundry and wash dishes. And so it has been for hundreds of years.
The cleanliness of the water does not seem to bother Suzhou residents.
They are still here and catching something... Is it really fish?
They wash all sorts of objects. For example, parrot cages
Perhaps this is more interesting than all the palaces and monasteries that could be here :)
If I had known, of course, that I couldn’t leave, I would have walked here yesterday, and today I would have gone to Tunli in the morning. But what's done is done.
These are the richer areas.
And there are narrow narrow streets.
As I already said, Suzhou was the capital of China in the Middle Ages. The emperors of the Ming Dynasty lived here, and many of them planted stunningly beautiful gardens!
The Imperial Gardens are one of the key features of Suzhou. There are about 7 of them, it is advisable to see as many as possible. I was able to get into the main and largest garden.
In general, as we know, the Chinese are, in principle, prone to a sense of beauty. That's why they always did well in places like gardens.
Copies of small trees.
A ticket to the garden costs 70 yuan. 700 rubles with our money. It’s unlikely that I would voluntarily go to this garden for that amount of money. But we managed to sneak through the exit behind the guards’ backs :)
But the garden is cool!
Landscape decorations.
It wouldn't be a group of tourists... However, since I got here for free, why should I complain?
Gazebos. Chinese kings once rested here.
Where would we be without flowers?
And we will return to the city, to the usual Chinese areas.
How often do you see forests sticking out of canals?
Stationery shop. We can immediately see that Xijinping is never Stalin. Is it conceivable for us to have such a combination?
There are also leisure clubs with mahjong here.
Moreover, there are canals with ancient buildings not only in the center. An ordinary street is about 2-3 km south of it, and here you go,
The picture here is spoiled in places by “I don’t care about anyone.” Alas, the rise in the general standard of living in China has brought to the top such an uneducated village, which shows its rural habits in the city by buying expensive cars. The problem is familiar to us, we have already begun to slowly move away from it, but the Chinese are still lagging behind.
Well, these are standard tenement blocks on the outskirts of Suzhou. Through them I tried to get onto the highway to hitchhike to Qingdao. But I got lost, got lost, and in the end the highway ended up at the 5th floor level in this place. So I didn’t leave Qingdao that day, I just wandered around with my backpack. But I looked into such a nice place.
Life is in full swing!
In general, Suzhou Cheryomushki.
Well, this blacksmith, as they say, made my day!